Australians advance in Umag

News Article

Photo: Ray GiubiloAndrew Rae (AUS)

UMAG, CROATIA: Day two of the 2012 Super-Seniors World Individual Championships saw the Men’s 60 singles reach the fourth round stage. It was a good day for the men from down under with victories for top seed Andrew Rae and Ian Thomas (AUS) as well as New Zealander Quentin Maisey. Rae had been struggling during the team week with a hip injury and it only playing singles in the individual championships this week but looked to have put his troubles behind him beating Boviroj Dakic (CRO) 63 61. Fellow Australian Ian Thomas, who are unseeded, won his second consecutive three set match beating Torsten Hansson of Sweden 75 36 76(4) whilst Quentin Maisey (NZL) Karl Heinz-Jakob (GER) 64 64.

There was more success for Australia in the Women’s 60 singles with victories for Adrienne Avis, Kerry Ballard and Wendy Gilchrist sending them into round four. However there are a number of players in this age category who look to be in fine form and have their eyes set on the title. Top seeds Nora Blom (NED) has not yet dropped a game in her two matches and Tina Karwasky (USA), who reached the quarter finals of the 55 women’s singles world championships in Ferbruary, has only dropped one game on her way into round four. The fourth round will also see an all-German encounter between second seed Heidi Eitserlehner and Irene Smutny.

The ‘big three’ in the Men’s 80 singles all made it through unscathed today at TC Polynesia (a nearby venue to the ATP Stadium) in Umag. It was plain sailing for Lorne Main (CAN) and John Powless (USA) who both won 60 60 today but it was a tougher for top seed Henri Crutche (FRA) who faced a tough match against John O’Brien (AUS). O‘Brien, who reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1956 before losing to Lew Hoad, has been in fine form on the ITF Seniors Circuit in recent months but in the end Crutchet was too strong, winning 63 64.

Dori DeVries remains firm favourite for the Women’s 75 singles title after a 61 62 victory over Anne Williams (GBR) today. After winning the team championships last week, DeVries has the opportunity to repeat her feat of last year’s World Championships in Turkey where she won the team title as well as individual singles and doubles titles. Her main competition may come in the form of second seeded German Brigitte Jung who won through today without dropping a game.

For full results, draws and order of play please click the link at the bottom of the page.